Trump wants US troops out of Syria ‘as soon as possible’

Donald Trump still wants American troops in Syria to return home as soon as possible, the White House says, after Emmanuel Macron said he had convinced the US President to keep a US presence there for “the long term”.

“The US mission has not changed – the President has been clear that he wants US forces to come home as quickly as possible,” White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said in a statement.

There are estimated to be around 2,000 US troops in Syria.

Ms Sanders added: “We are determined to completely crush ISIS and create the conditions that will prevent its return. In addition we expect our regional allies and partners to take greater responsibility both militarily and financially for securing the region.”

Image:The Barzah Research and Development Centre, near Damascus, pictured before…

Image:…and after the coalition missile attack

Earlier, the French President said he had persuaded Mr Trump to stay in Syria and launch airstrikes as punishment for the alleged chemical weapons attack in Douma.

“Ten days ago President Trump wanted the United States of America to withdraw from Syria. We convinced him to remain,” Mr Macron said during a two-hour grilling on French television.

“I assure you, we have convinced him that it is necessary to stay for the long-term,” he added.

Meanwhile, Syrian President Bashar al Assad has said the Western airstrikes in his country were based on “lies” by the UN Security Council.

Image:The Shinshar chemical weapons facility pictured before…

Image:… and after the coalition missile strike

Speaking to a group of visiting Russian politicians, he said the US, Britain and France had waged a campaign of “lies and misinformation” against Syria and its ally Russia.

The two nations deny using chemical weapons in the attack on Douma in the suburbs of Damascus last Saturday, which triggered the US-led decision to carry out strikes on Friday night.

Mr Assad was described by the Russians as being in a good mood, a day after the airstrikes destroyed three chemical weapons facilities.

Mr Corbyn called for a War Powers Act to make it necessary for MPs to approve future British military action, with the Opposition leader criticising Theresa May’s decision to carry out the strikes without parliamentary approval.

He also called her justification on humanitarian grounds “legally debatable”.

Image:Syrians were celebrating defying the UK, US and France’s strikes

Mr Cable told Sky News it was a “mistake” to launch the strikes “without getting proper political endorsement”, adding the move was a “mistake of judgement” borne out of political weakness.

And Ms Sturgeon questioned the Prime Minister’s assertion there was “no practical alternative”, saying she was not sure if that “is really the case”.